Olympic gold-medallist Peter Wilson appointed MBE

Olympic gold-medal winning marksman Peter Wilson is among those in Dorset to be recognised in the Queen's New Year's Honours list.

Wilson, 26, from Glanvilles Wootton, won the London 2012 men's double trap final at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich.

He is one of 10 people in the county to be made an MBE.

Simon Williams, head of 2012 Games operations at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, is also recognised.

'Terrific honour'

Wilson was unavailable for comment but his mother Fiona said he was "very happy".

She added: "I am gobsmacked and thrilled - it is such a terrific honour."

Foster carer Wendy Hopkins, 67, and her husband Phil, 73, from Bradford Abbas have been appointed MBE for services to children and families.

The couple, who said they were "surprised and overwhelmed" by the honour, have fostered more than 100 children since 1971.

Annette Brooke, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole has been made an OBE, along with Lesley Walter, head teacher at Philip Green Memorial School, in Wimborne, for services to special educational needs.

Gold postbox

Others honoured in Dorset include Prof Sarah Cowley, from Bournemouth, who has been made a dame for services to health visiting and Gwen Yarker, curator at Dorset County Museum, who receives one of five British Empire Medals for the county.

Born in Dorchester, Wilson learnt to shoot at Southern Counties Shooting Club.

Before London 2012 he was trained by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, a member of Dubai's ruling family and double trap gold medallist at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The postbox in Sherborne, which is close to Glanvilles Wootton where Wilson now lives, was painted gold in August in honour of his Olympic achievement. His shooting triumph also featured on a Royal Mail stamp.